Eudokia (empress)
Encyclopedia
Eudokia or Eudocia originally named Fabia, was a Byzantine
lady who became the first empress-consort of Heraclius
from 610 to her death in 612.
. Rogas was a landowner in the Exarchate of Africa
.
when the future emperor still resided in the Exarchate. The Exarch at the time was her father-in-law Heraclius the Elder
.
Heraclius had started a revolt against Phocas
in 608. Under unknown circumstances both Fabia and her mother-in-law Epiphania seem to have been captured by Phocas by 610. They spent their captivity in the monastery "Nea Metanoia" (New Repentance) and were used as hostages to prevent Heraclius from besieging Constantinople
.
The two women were eventually released by members of the Green faction of Byzantine chariot racing
events. They were delivered to Heraclius to the island of Calonymus
(now Calomio), leaving him free to launch his successful assault. The Excubitors
defected to his side and thus allowed him to enter the city without serious resistance.
On 5 October, 610, Heraclius was proclaimed Emperor. On the same day they were married. She took the name Eudokia at this point. She was granted the title of Augusta.
They had two children:
. According to Nikephoros, her funeral was accompanied with an incident revealing how popular she was with the general populace. A maidservant spat
out of an upstairs window while the funeral procession was just below it. The coffin was still open and the saliva
reached the robes of the corpse. The crowds took offense and the girl was promptly seized. Finishing her life in an execution by burning
.
Eudokia was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles
. Heraclius went on to marry his niece Martina.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
lady who became the first empress-consort of Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
from 610 to her death in 612.
Family
She was a daughter of Rogas. The name of her father was recorded in the chronicle of Theophanes the ConfessorTheophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
. Rogas was a landowner in the Exarchate of Africa
Exarchate of Africa
The Exarchate of Africa or of Carthage, after its capital, was the name of an administrative division of the Eastern Roman Empire encompassing its possessions on the Western Mediterranean, ruled by an exarch, or viceroy...
.
Empress
Her birth name was Fabia. She was bethrothed to HeracliusHeraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
when the future emperor still resided in the Exarchate. The Exarch at the time was her father-in-law Heraclius the Elder
Heraclius the Elder
Heraclius the Elder was an East Roman general and the father of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius . Of Armenian origin, the elder Heraclius distinguished himself in the wars against the Sassanid Persians in the 580s. Ca. 600, he was appointed as the Exarch of Africa. In 608, he rebelled with his son...
.
Heraclius had started a revolt against Phocas
Phocas
Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:...
in 608. Under unknown circumstances both Fabia and her mother-in-law Epiphania seem to have been captured by Phocas by 610. They spent their captivity in the monastery "Nea Metanoia" (New Repentance) and were used as hostages to prevent Heraclius from besieging Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
The two women were eventually released by members of the Green faction of Byzantine chariot racing
Chariot racing
Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm...
events. They were delivered to Heraclius to the island of Calonymus
Calonymus
Calonymus of Alexandria was a Byzantine naval commander, known for leading the fleet in the Vandalic War . The main source about him is Procopius. - Biography :...
(now Calomio), leaving him free to launch his successful assault. The Excubitors
Excubitors
The Excubitors were founded in circa 460 AD as the imperial guards of the early Byzantine emperors. Their commanders soon acquired great influence and provided a series of emperors in the 6th century...
defected to his side and thus allowed him to enter the city without serious resistance.
On 5 October, 610, Heraclius was proclaimed Emperor. On the same day they were married. She took the name Eudokia at this point. She was granted the title of Augusta.
They had two children:
- Eudoxia EpiphaniaEudoxia EpiphaniaEudoxia Epiphania was the only daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius and his first wife Eudokia. She was born at Constantinople on the July 7, 611 CE, baptized on August 15, and crowned Eudoxia Epiphania (also known as Epiphania, Eudocia or Eudokia) was the only daughter of the Byzantine...
, a daughter. Born on 7 July, 611. She was proclaimed Augusta on 4 October, 612. - Heraclius Constantine, a son, who went on to be Emperor Constantine III. Born on 3 May, 612. Crowned co-emperor on 22 January, 613.
Death
Eudokia died on 13 August, 612. According to the Chronographikon syntomon of Ecumenical Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople, the cause of death was epilepsyEpilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
. According to Nikephoros, her funeral was accompanied with an incident revealing how popular she was with the general populace. A maidservant spat
Spitting
Spitting or expectoration is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth. It is currently considered rude and a social taboo in many parts of the world including the West, while in some other parts of the world it is considered more acceptable...
out of an upstairs window while the funeral procession was just below it. The coffin was still open and the saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
reached the robes of the corpse. The crowds took offense and the girl was promptly seized. Finishing her life in an execution by burning
Execution by burning
Death by burning is death brought about by combustion. As a form of capital punishment, burning has a long history as a method in crimes such as treason, heresy, and witchcraft....
.
Eudokia was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles
Church of the Holy Apostles
The Church of the Holy Apostles , also known as the Imperial Polyandreion, was a Christian church built in Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, in 550. It was second only to the Church of the Holy Wisdom among the great churches of the capital...
. Heraclius went on to marry his niece Martina.